Grief and Loss Counseling in Arlington, VA.

Experiencing loss is part of every life and learning to grieve our losses effectively is a necessary pathway to growth. Whether it is the death of a loved one, sickness, aging, financial setback or simply the loss of a dream, no one is untouched by the pain of life turning out differently than expected. My approach in therapy is to provide a safe and compassionate place for you to journey through the stages of grief resulting in new hope for the future. I believe that accepting our losses and learning to grieve well is a powerful tool for emotional and spiritual growth.

Grief is an intense feeling of sadness or sorrow. You can try to suppress your grief but can’t avoid it forever. We are here to help you face it head-on with bereavement therapy. Understanding the different types of grief is important so we’re better prepared and so we can be supportive of others who are going through it. It's your battle, but you don't need to fight alone. We are here to help you with grief counseling.

One's grief and loss is very important for you to define with help and then work out each area until you have learned how to see the flags and cope with the truth. The fiction must be discovered from the truth, otherwise one will stay trapped. It's ok to cycle between the different stages of grief as long as you do not get stuck. It is a major key for me to listen to your pain. I have a free e-book called "Don't Waste Your Pain" Go download it; it's free to you.

Grief and loss are a natural and unavoidable part of life, whether it is a sudden loss, like the loss of a loved one to death, or a more gradual loss, like the loss of physical vitality with illness or aging. When a very large loss overwhelms us and makes life seem painful and perhaps meaningless, it is time to get help to put that loss in perspective. I help people to work their way through loss and find ways to make it part of the larger mosaic of their life, helping them reduce the overwhelming pain and helping them find hope and meaning again.

Grief and loss do not have to take over your life! There is a way to recover from unexpected loss and find life where there was once only grief. Find out more about a compassionate and structured way to heal, that makes use of and redeems difficult or painful emotions that get triggered from grief and loss. Your mind remembers (even if you think you've forgotten) how to balance itself. We use an effective and modern counseling approach that taps into the brain's amazing ability to re-mold itself when faced with catastrophic loss or pain. All psychotherapies aren't the same when it comes to knowing how to quickly facilitate this natural brain mechanism. Visit our website for free resources.

I help my clients process many kinds of loss, both real (death, separation, miscarriage) and ambiguous (dementia, missing persons, addictions), through their relationships and context. My training as a couple and family therapist helps me think about grief and loss through the lens of family stress. Empathic listening helps me understand your experience, and we work together to heal your grief and sadness at your own pace.

There is no right way to grieve. Each person and each experience is different. Loss affects even the strongest relationships and people can feel off balance for a long time. Sometimes people feel like they will never be happy again or feel guilty when they do experience a moment of pleasure. We will help you explore where you may be feeling stuck and develop ways to adjust to a new normal.

As much as any of us might wish grief and loss weren't a part of life, if we can integrate them into who you become, we really do grow to a better version of ourselves. The pain of grief isn't something to "get over," and the messages we sometimes get from others to do it can lead to withdrawal, more pain, and more feelings of loss. Working through your grief isn't about "closure" -- trying to close the door on your sadness and loss doesn't serve you. But with support, you can find your way forward to growth, joy, and a fuller life.

Learning how to healthily grieve is foundational to experiencing peace in the midst of a broken world. We all experience various forms of loss, from the "little" disappointments that we don't even consciously notice, to the catastrophic losses that feel as though they will drown us. We are relational beings who are meant to grieve and work through all of these in the context of relationships. As one who is no stranger to loss, I know how scared we can be to face our grief and loss. And I know the great peace and strength that comes through doing so. I would be honored to guide and walk with you in your grief journey, helping you to eventually find new life on the other side of your loss.

Grief encompasses a broad range of feelings and behaviors that are common after a loss. Sadness is the most common feeling . It is common and expected to experience sadness if you have lost someone you love. One of the most important factors in healing is having support. Even if you are not normally comfortable talking about your feelings under normal circumstance, it is important to have some place where you can express them when your grieving. We can help you gain an understanding of your feelings and provide you coping strategies for dealing with the loss.

Each loss is unique and so is the treatment. You may need a witness to tell your story in a safe, respectful place or find strategies to deal with unresolved issues with an important person you lost or a job. I can help you through this by using different strategies, such as, writing unsent letters to the person you lost, visualizing ways of moving on while establishing rituals to maintain good memories, connecting with support groups as needed,etc.

Handling loss sometimes feels impossible. Learning to live without the lost loved one oftentimes leads to feelings of hopelessness and fear of the unknown. I work with my clients to celebrate the ones we have lost as well as find ways to continue. I make sure that we don't go too fast in trying to "get over" the pain of loss. It's important to both celebrate our loved ones while we learn to move on without them.

The grieving process is intensely personal and intensely painful. It can feel as if the world has gone crazy and is spinning away without you. How do you make sense of anything in the face of such pain? The simplest tasks can feel impossible. Going to the grocery store, visiting the bank, walking the dog, and even making your morning coffee can trigger a heart-wrenching ache. With mindfulness and support, you CAN begin to heal and weave your loss into the tapestry of your life. You will laugh again, dream again, and love again.

Grief and loss can require therapy because they frequently involve trauma--death, divorce, moves, job losses. They lead to a feeling of loss-of-control in many areas of life, even when the control you had is actually still there. In therapy, we work through the loss and accompanying grief, and find ways to express your feelings while still recognizing the trauma--and the reasons for the loss. We create coping mechanisms and turn negative ideas into positive ones.

Everyone reacts to death differently. Some become numb and will eventually disconnect from friends. Despair sets in as the reality of the loss settles. The grieving process can be long and isolating. My objective is to counsel the soul with methods generated by the Spirit of God. So that the process is in reliance to Him. Receiving reassurance and feeling understood is also part of the counseling process and will make the recovery process more complete during one of life's most challenging times. Even Jesus wept. It is okay to do so. It is both natural and biblical to grieve. It is part of the healing process that I look forward to helping you through. You are not alone.

Grief and loss are some of the most difficult issues we can encounter. The feelings can be very intense and feel as though they will never end. All feelings have a beginning, a middle, and an end. As we move through the stages of grief, we can feel confused about what is normal and what is to be expected. Seeking help will allow you to move through your issues more quickly and effectively. I will assist you in moving through the grief process towards healing and expanded growth.

When someone lost the loved one, he/she will experience different feelings, such as sad, angry, lonely, confused, and guilty. When these strong emotions all come together at the same time, one can be overwhelmed. Hence, grief counseling can help. Everyone goes through birth, aging, sickness, and death, and grief is a normal process of human’s life. Grief counseling gives you an opportunity to find a better way to memorize the loved one while moving forward your life.

Loss is inevitable. It is the flip side of love and the greatest pain we know. Hearts can break and hearts can heal. We must first accept ALL feelings. We can cultivate gratitude for the gifts our loved one gave us. Sometimes it is also important to acknowledge and learn from the mistakes of the one we have lost., the ways they may have caused pain to themselves and others. If the person has been a large part of our daily living, it is as if we need to recreate our lives bringing new resources into the emptiness. The waves of extreme pain become less frequent with time. The person's memory remains with us, and their gifts to us can inspire those very strengths in ourselves.

Are you struggling to find your way through the painful journey of grief and loss? As a compassionate and experienced therapist, I am here to guide you towards healing and renewed hope. Together, we will create a safe and supportive space where you can freely express your emotions and unravel the complexities of your grief. Through active listening, empathy, and personalized therapeutic techniques, I will help you navigate the stages of grief, offering validation and understanding every step of the way, to help find meaning amidst the darkness. Together, we will embark on a transformative journey towards healing, acceptance, and growth. You don't have to face this alone.

I have guided many people going through the loss of a family member or friend. I am currently working with a client who lost his mother. He has begun to feel better and remember his mother in ways that are deeply meaningful to him. I have also experienced losses which gives me a greater understanding of what you may need to express your feelings and continue to live a full life.

We experience loss around many different events in our life. Loss of a loved one (including a companion animal), a job, our hopes and dreams, and financial security are some life changing circumstances that bring about grief and loss. I help to create a space where it feels safe to talk about the many different feelings, thoughts, and behaviors that can arise. You don’t have to go through this alone. Contact me and start getting relief during a difficult time.

I work closely with you to help you cope with grief and mourning the loss of a loved one, major life changes, and major life disappointments. We often feel alone and sad when we are disappointed by our losses. I will help you to develop a plan to recover move forward toward an inner peace with the past. We will move at your pace and honor your response to your loss.

Learn how to work with you grief due to loss. Understand that this is your journey to go through in the best way for yourself. Acquire emotional support; develop awareness and understanding; and utilize techniques that help you get through your time of sorrow in your own time. There is no defined time for grieving; only and acknowledgement and learning of how to live with it.

Losing someone or something is incredibly hard. I believe that one of the great myths that we are told is simply that “time heals all wounds.” Time can actually reinforce the pain of loss and it is important to mourn and grieve that which we no longer have. I am honored to partner with my clients on their journey through healing and finding peace after a loss. I look forward to the opportunity to work with you.

Robyn Brickel and Brickel & Associates as a practice, treat grief and loss from a trauma-informed, systems model of care, as they treat all mental health issues. Understanding that people process grief differently and that losses can trigger other feelings, we aim to provide a safe space for clients to have their emotions held and witnessed by another and help hold themselves with compassion and kindness as they work through the stages of grief.